Man arrested after Publix robbery attempt

An Ormond Beach man with a meat cleaver in his satchel decided against paying for his order from a Publix deli, police said.

By Katie Kusturakatie.kustura@news-jrnl.com

An Ormond Beach man with a meat cleaver in his satchel decided against paying for his order from a Publix deli, police said.

James Tortora Jr. entered the Holly Hill grocery store on Ridgewood Avenue shortly before 4:20 p.m. Tuesday and proceeded to order food from the deli, according to a Holly Hill police charging affidavit.

The store's loss prevention officer saw Tortora, 31, nervously checking over his shoulder before attempting to leave the store without paying the $14.72 he owed, according to the affidavit. The officer approached Tortora in front of the store and asked him to return his items.

“Get out of my way or I'll break both of your arms!” Tortora told the officer before pushing him away, according to the affidavit. The officer asked him again to return the items.

Tortora said he would and placed the items in a nearby cart but pushed the officer and left the area when the officer tried to detain him, according to the affidavit. Tortora was found by the railroad tracks near Calle Grand Street about 30 minutes later.

Tortora, who has a tattoo of a meat cleaver along with the words “The Butcher,” is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on a charge of armed robbery by sudden snatching with bail set at $5,000, records show.